Council Member Hankerson speaks on Climate Week and equitable tree canopy

Councilmember Hankerson, followed by Narcisse.

Thank you, Majority Leader.

This year, Climate Week comes with a heightened sense of urgency, as the United Nations has officially declared that the world will not meet the goals set by the Paris Climate Accord to cap rising temperatures at 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels.

That is precisely why...

We need to invest even more heavily in reducing New York's carbon emissions and making our city more climate resilient.

As Parks Chair, I see investing in our trees, parks, and various green spaces as one critical way that our city addresses a changing climate.

Our 7 million trees are crucial for keeping our city cool against rising heat.

During the peak of summer, the temperature under a single tree canopy can be up to 25 degrees cooler than the surrounding street.

Our trees and parks also play a vital part in helping manage our city's stormwater, something we know all too well in Southeast Queens.

As sea levels rise and flooding becomes more and more of a risk, our urban forest is a necessary tool for keeping people safe.

But the reality is that these green assets are not distributed equally across New York.

As our city continues to get hotter year after year, it will lead to lives being lost disproportionately in black and brown communities, which can be up to 10 degrees hotter due to a historical lack of foliage and green space.

Black New Yorkers already die of heat stress at double the rate of their white counterparts.

Without intervention, this number is sure to increase.

I believe it's the duty of the council to be proactive and do everything within its power to mitigate the worst effects of climate change and to do so equitably.

By building a greener infrastructure today, we can ensure that a resilient, thriving New York belongs to every single one of us tomorrow.

Happy Climate Week.